Jimi Manuwa has simple game plan prepared for Kyle Kingsbury at UFC on FUEL TV 5

NOTTINGHAM, England – The third time may just be the charm for Jimi Manuwa when it comes to the UFC.

Manuwa (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his long-awaited UFC debut on Saturday at UFC on FUEL TV 5 in his home country of England – after twice passing on opportunities to sign with the promotion.

Most other fighters surely would have jumped at the chance to fight for the world’s biggest promotion – but Manuwa was remarkably self-disciplined when it came to making the decisions.

“The first time (I got the offer), I had only been training for two years,” Manuwa on Wednesday told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I was nowhere near ready. I had all stoppages in my fights, but I didn’t feel I was ready. I didn’t want to jump in and then lose and get chopped out, and then be trying to fight to get back in.”

A well thought-out and mature decision, to be certain. But many would argue that turning the world’s biggest MMA promotion down a second time is outright bonkers.

But again, Manuwa waid it was just a matter of being ready.

“The second time, I was coming off a long layoff – about 16 months for a big injury,” he said. “So that one, I didn’t feel I was ready still. But I’ve had two big fights since then and I’ve done a lot more training between fights. I’ve been working on everything I need to work on.

“I always knew I’d end up (in the UFC) if I kept winning and knocking people out. I always knew they’d end up calling.”

Finally, the third time, Manuwa stopped leaving the UFC at the alter and said yes.

With a remarkable 10 knockouts in his 11 wins – the other came by submission – Manuwa has been one of the most dangerous fighters on the U.K. MMA scene who wasn’t already contracted by the UFC.

And for those who might not know who he is, Manuwa says don’t worry – he expects they will after Saturday night when he meets Kyle Kingsbury (11-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) at UFC on FUEL TV 5, which takes place at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England.

“I’m an exciting fighter. I don’t come to win rounds or the judges’ decision or lay on people,” Manuwa said. “I come to do the business. There’s an exciting fighter coming to the UFC.”

Manuwa stressed that to prepare for Kingsbury, he’s been working all aspects of his game. Still, he’s got to be looking for a big knockout, right? Like the kinds he had when he won the Ultimate Challenge MMA title in England and defended it five times?

“I train MMA,” Manuwa said. “I train in the clinch, on my back, on top, boxing, kickboxing, everything. I’ve watched (Kingsbury’s fights), but I don’t study them. I let my coaches watch them and tell me what to do. I’m like a character in ‘Street Fighter.'”

But despite all the well-rounded talk, Manuwa said his coaches want him to just go right to his bread and butter.

“Just knock him out,” he said.

UFC on FUEL TV 5’s main card airs Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FUEL TV following prelims on Facebook. Manuwa and Kingsbury close out that Facebook stream.

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